RaboDirect PRO12: Round 1 Preview

Ulster kick things off from an Irish perspective in this season's RaboDirect PRO12 with a home tie against Glasgow Warriors at Ravenhill on Friday night.

Ulster begin the season with a home game for the sixth time in the past seven seasons, and beat Glasgow 28-14 at
Ravenhill in round 1 last season.

Ulster finished off last season's RaboDirect PRO12 with three successive defeats - all to their three fellow Irish provinces. But the Ulstermen have won five of their last six clashes with Scottish opponents.

Expect a big crowd, thanks to strong season ticket sales, at the Sportsground on Saturday as Connacht host the Cardiff Blues. Both Connacht and the Blues have begun with an opening weekend victory for the past two seasons.

Connacht achieved their highest tournament finishing position last season (eighth), and won three of their last four games. Connacht have lost only one of their last six matches at the Sportsground, going down 20-16 to Munster last March.

Munster are on the road for their first game of the league as they travel to Edinburgh. Munster have begun their new campaign with a win in four of the past five seasons.

The Munstermen's only victory away from home in their last four trips was that 20-16 success at Connacht in March. Munster have lost just one of their last ten encounters with Scottish opponents.

Leinster's clash with the Scarlets has some family rivalry to it with the Easterby brothers involved in the backroom team for both sides - Guy Easterby is the Leinster team manager, while Simon Easterby is the new head coach for the Welsh side.

Since the tournament became a season-long one in 2003/04, amazingly Leinster have won in round one just once - 23-8 at home to Edinburgh in 2007. The only side to defeat the Leinstermen in the PRO12 after the 2011 Rugby World Cup was the Ospreys, who did it twice.

The Scarlets have not beaten Leinster in their last seven encounters in all competitions, since their 18-16 victory at Parc y Scarlets in the opening round of this competition in the 2009/10 season.

The countdown is on to the Women's Sevens Dublin tournament in UCD on August 22-23. Anthony Eddy, IRFU Director of Rugby Sevens & Women's Rugby, previews what promises to be an exciting couple of days.

Tickets for the tournament start at 5 euro, with children free, and are available to buy here - http://www.ticketmaster.ie/Womens-Sevens-Series-tickets/artist/2134381?tm_link=artist_artistvenue_module.

Jenny Murphy talks about the progress made by the Ireland Women's Sevens team and their pool draw for the upcoming Women's Sevens Dublin tournament in UCD on August 22-23.

Tickets for the tournament start at 5 euro, with children free, and are available to buy here - http://www.ticketmaster.ie/Womens-Sevens-Series-tickets/artist/2134381?tm_link=artist_artistvenue_module.

Conor Murray and Tommy Bowe speak to Irish Rugby TV about their Rugby World Cup preparations and thank the thousands of supporters who came out to see the players at the open training session at the Sportsground.

Ireland captain Paul O'Connell gives his verdict on the team's new Rugby World Cup jersey and talks about his move to French club Toulon. Ireland's RWC 2015 range is available to pre-order now from http://shop.irishrugby.ie.

Anthony Eddy, IRFU Director of Rugby Sevens, talks about the target of a top three finish for both the Ireland Men and Women in Lisbon this weekend, as they continue on their quests for Olympic qualification.

Tom Daly, who recently captained the Ireland Men's Sevens team to the European Division C and B titles, is looking forward to playing in this weekend's Rugby Europe Olympic Repechage tournament in Lisbon, Portugal.

Ireland will host the 'Women's Sevens Dublin' at UCD on Saturday, August 22 and Sunday, August 23. Tournament director Garrett Tubridy and Ireland stars Lucy Mulhall, Jenny Murphy and Louise Galvin speak about their excitement ahead of the World Rugby Women's Sevens Series qualifier.

Coach Allen Clarke and stand-in captain Billy Holland answer questions from the media following Emerging Ireland's 45-12 victory over Georgia in the final round of their successful Tbilisi Cup campaign.

Emerging Ireland coach Allen Clarke speaks about his side's five-try 33-7 win over Uruguay in the Tbilisi Cup and the first half injury to captain Rhys Ruddock. They wrap up the tournament against hosts Georgia on Sunday.

Speaking about the floods that occurred following the Tbilisi Cup's first round, Emerging Ireland team manager Joey Miles said: "A natural event like that, a tragedy like that puts the game of rugby into perspective. We express our regrets to the Georgian people and the Georgian Union for the terrible tragedy that they had."

David O'Reilly from the IRFU Charitable Trust's Corporate Patrons Committee speaks about the new scheme which provides businesses with unique networking opportunities and provides a platform for companies to effectively activate their CSR programmes. For further information, please contact Linda Black of the Charitable Trust - telephone (01) 6473866 or email: linda.black@irfu.ie / http://www.irishrugby.ie/news/34728.php.